Anticipation over “Queen of Tears” was high even before a glimpse of it was disclosed. Top actors and actresses, including Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won, were cast, mesmerizing the audience with their attractive appearance in the sneak peeks of the gorgeous trailers and images. However, the main reason behind the heightened anticipation might be the writer Park Ji-won, who has produced countless popular series, including “My Love from the Star” and “Crash Landing on You.” “Queen of Tears” marks Park Ji-won’s second collaboration with director Kim Hee-won after “Crash Landing on You.” On the other hand, she worked with Kim Soo-hyun in two previous projects, “The Producer” and “My Love from the Star.”
Crafting a successful TV series is all about a harmonious blend of a compelling synopsis, a stellar cast, skilled direction, and a well-crafted script. Achieving satisfaction in all three elements—casting, direction, and script—is a rarity, but “Queen of Tears” stands out.
“Queen of Tears” and such a remarkable production team drew much attention before broadcasting, and they are actually pulling it off, consistently increasing their viewer rating whenever a new episode is released. The latest episode, the episode 8, reached 16.1%, ranking eighth on TvN’s all-time Saturday drama view ratings. Even its actual popularity on the ground is much higher, with many social media platforms, including YouTube and Instagram among others, generating related contents one after another. In line with this trend, the two protagonists, Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji Won are creating a buzz.
The storyline manages to navigate through familiar clichés with a fresh and captivating twist, promising an engaging and distinctive viewing experience. What is most noteworthy is the gender switch. In Korean drama, it is almost a norm for a prince-like male protagonist to fall in love with a pretty, righteous, and strong female character. However, in “Queen of Tears,” the female character, akin to a queen, is a family member of a large conglomerate who is to be married to a good-looking and capable male character from an ordinary family.
“Queen of Tears” also distances itself from the fairytale aspect of traditional Korean drama. It is not about how they fall in love and end up getting married, but rather about the aftermath of their marriage. In other words, it is a story about what happens after the lovers in the fairytale have gotten married and lived happily ever after.
It doesn’t stop there. Every setting and scene in “Queen of Tears” adheres to the conventional clichés of Korean dramas, which writer Park Ji-won has fully utilized in her previous projects, albeit with possible twists and adjustments. Both the writer and the production team are eagerly employing clever strategies to create a humorous and romantic atmosphere, characterized by the typical back-and-forth funny conversations between the characters, commonly referred to as “티키타카” in Korea.
Official Trailer
Broadcasting Information
The first episode of “Queen of Tears” is scheduled to air on March 9. It is composed of 16 episodes and are being streamed on Tiving and Netflixin in Korea, and Paramount+ globally.
Storyline of “Queen of Tears”
The third-generation heiress of the Queens Group department store, Hong Hae-in (played by Kim Ji-won), and the son of a local grocery store owner, Baek Hyun-woo (played by Kim Soo-hyun), tied the knot. They are affectionately known as the “Queen of “Queens Group”” and the “Prince of the Grocery Store.” Their marriage, hailed as the wedding of the century, is perceived as a union between a conglomerate granddaughter and a supermarket son. If a brilliant, good-hearted young man and woman fall sincerely in love and get married, they are destined to live happily ever after. On the contrary, the reality is not so rosy as they think.
After merely three years of marriage, it appeared that the initial spark between the two had waned. Mere misunderstandings in married life often result in another, more serious misunderstanding, gradually escalating into sharp conflicts. These conflicts may intensify due to uncontrollable factors, including different upbringings, possibly driving them apart forever. The phrase “Love begets marriage but marriage tarnishes love,” on the iconic poster of “Queen of Tears,” captures this sad cycle of married life crystal clear.
Cast
Kim Soo-Hyun Portrays Baek Hyun-Woo
Legal Counsel for Queens Group / Head of Legal Team at Queens Department Store (35 years old)
A graduate of Seoul National University Law School, the nation’s most prestigious institution, Baek Hyun-woo is a lawyer distinguished for his sharp intellect and legal expertise. With his charming appearance, he has become a sheer subject of envy.
Baek Hyun-woo is the son of the owner of a small mom-and-pop store in a small town called Yongduri. He is the pride of the neighborhood, especially after marrying the daughter of a leading conglomerate in the country, Queens Group. People say he’s very lucky. In reality, once a firm believer in love, he took the plunge into marriage. However, three years later, he finds himself yearning for divorce, and the desire is fervent.
“Queen of Tears” is Kim Soo-hyun’s first OTA drama in 3 years and 7 months since he starred in “It is Okay to not be Okay.” The project was quite popular until a scandal involving co-star Seo Ye-ji surfaced. He later ventured into OTT with “One Ordinary Day” on Coupang Play, but it ended up being a storm in a teacup.
The collaboration between Kim Soo-hyun and writer Park Ji-won is impressive, as seen in “My Love from the Start” and “Queen of Tears.” In “Queen of Tears,” Kim Soo-hyun, as always, captivates the audience with his smart, funny and romantic characterization. The luxurious backgrounds and elaborate outfits of a son-in-law of a rich family make him appear even more attractive.
Kim Ji-Won Portrays Hong Hae-In
Executive Director at Queens Group / President of Queens Department Store (35 years old)
Also, she is a diligent worker. Even for her, however, building a happy married life is a challenge. Then, an unexpected turn of events unfolds.
Kim Ji-won has been particularly adored by the general public. Since her debut in 2008, she has gradually built up her filmography starting with minor roles. Even after she achieved her breakthrough with the role of “Descendants of the Sun,” she remained genuine, engaging in a broad spectrum of quality projects and delivering excellent acting performances.
The role in “My Liberation Note,” which earned her fame, is completely different from her role in “Queen of Tears” in nature, but she manages to portray both characters impeccably. It is not easy for an actor or actress to record a consistent streak of viewership, so it can be said that she is now establishing herself as a top actress. “My Liberation Note” drew much attention with her iconic line, “Worship me.
Park Sung-Hoon Portrays Yoon Eun-Seong
A seasoned M&A expert hailing from a background in Wall Street analysis.
Within informed circles, he is celebrated for his extraordinary expertise in discerning between fruitful and fruitless investments. He comes from a wealthy family. Despite widespread curiosity about his personal life, including marital status and current wealth, the reasons behind his occasional visits to Korea remain shrouded in mystery. He has a long-standing crush on Hong Hae-in, but he seems to harbor a hidden intention.
He made his debut in 2008 with “A Frozen Flower,” but rose to the fame only recently after starring in “The Glory,” streamed by Netflix. For some reason, he shows his charm in villainous roles, as he was in “The Glory.” In “Queen of Tears,” he seems to be playing a villain again.
Gwak Dong-Yeon Portrays Hong Su-Cheol
Executive Vice President at Queens Group/CEO of Queens Mart (33 years old)
Even though he is all grown up, he still hates his sister as he did in childhood. Fortunately, at least, he is now very happy with his wife, who is different from his sister in every way.
Kwak Dong-yeon, who was only 14 at the time, starred in a reality program. In the show, he lived alone in Seoul, the capital of Korea, apart from his family who were residing in a local area, after being chosen by an entertainment company, and his humble and genuine way of life despite his young age impressed many viewers. Since then, he has been expanding his career by portraying numerous supporting roles in dramas and films, gradually transitioning into bigger roles.
Lee Joo-Bin Portrays Cheon Da-Hye
Su-cheol’s wife (31 years old)
Cheon Da-hye captivates with her graceful and refined visual appeal. She even laughs at her husband’s weird sense of humor. Even at the crack of dawn, during family breakfast gatherings, she adorns herself flawlessly. Her impeccable manners, profound knowledge of current affairs, and a seemingly boundless breadth of expertise make her truly luminous. A glimpse into her behavior hints that she has also a hidden agenda.
In the series, the character lied about her age in the beginning, saying 38 instead of 31. The official website revised the age accordingly after the actual age was revealed.
More
- Kim Gap-Soo Portrays Hong Man-Dae: Hae-in’s step-uncle, Queens Group Chairman (80 years old)
- Im Mi-Sook Portrays Mo Sul-Hee: Hong Man-dae’s cohabiting mistress (65 years old)
- Jung Jin-Young Portrays Hong Beom-Jun: Hae-in’s father, Queens Group Vice Chairman (57 years old)
- Na Young-Hee Portrays Kim Seon-Hwa” Hae-in’s mother, Queens Department Store VVIP Club Operator (56 years old)
- Kim Jung-Nan Portrays Hong Beom-Ja: Hae-in’s aunt (53 years old)
- Jeon Bae-Soo Portrays Baek Du-Gwan: Hyun-woo’s father, Village Head of Yongdu-ri (60 years old)
- Hwang Young-Hee Portrays Jeon Bong-Ae: Hyun-woo’s mother, Owner of Yongdu-ri Supermarket (61 years old)
- Kim Do-Hyun Portrays Baek Hyun-Tae: Hyun-woo’s older brother, Manager of Queens Boxing Gym (37 years old)
- Jang Yoon-Joo Portrays Baek Mi-Seon: Hyun-woo’s sister, Owner of Queens Hair Salon (40 years old)
Production Crew
Direction – Jang Young-Woo, Kim Hee-Won
Jang Young-woo: Helmed dramas such as “Entourage,” “Immortal Souls,” and co-directed “Mr. Sunshine” and “Sweet Home Season 1.” Also served as the responsible producer for “Crash Landing on You.”
Kim Hee-won: Directed an array of dramas including “My Way,” “The Crowned Clown,” “Vincenzo,” and “Little Women.” Contributed as a co-director for “Crash Landing on You.” Female directors were rare in Korea due to the notorious working conditions of shooting. Kim Hee-won is one of the few female directors and, furthermore, she boasts an impressive track record. She graduated from the Korea National University of Arts, a prestigious institution known for producing many talented individuals in the related industry.
Screenplay – Park Ji-Eun
Park Ji-eun has crafted scripts for notable dramas including “My Love from the Star,” “The Producer,” and “Crash Landing on You.”
From her debut in 2007 with “Sharp Knife Oh Soo-jung” to her recent triumph with “Crash Landing on You,” her track record boasts no failed dramas, consistently enchanting audiences. “Crash Landing on You” was immensely popular, reaching a whopping 24% viewership in the Seoul metropolitan area. Viewer attention lingers even after the series ended, as the two protagonists, Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin, got married in real life.
Trivia
- What truly stands out, even more than the casting of lead actors, directors, and screenwriters, is the remarkable ensemble cast. Featuring actors including Kim Gap-soo, Im Mi-sook, Jung Jin-young, Na Young-hee, Kim Jung-nan, Jeon Bae-soo, Kim Do-hyun, Jang Yoon-joo, Kim Young-min, Kim Ju-ryeong, and others, it’s almost unimaginable that a series could bring together such an exceptional lineup of supporting actors, whether it be for their acting prowess or the sheer value associated with their names.
- The two posters of “Queen of Tears,” each dedicated to the protagonists, revealed a complete overturn of the conventional clichés. The images and phrases were those of the opposite gender in previous Korean dramas.
- In “Queen of Tears,” the production team adopts the same tactic they used in “Crash Landing on You,” showing brief flashbacks from the past, to enrich the narrative. The drama also skillfully shows how the same incident can be perceived differently depending on each character’s point of view, resonating with the audience.
- Kim Ji-won mentioned in an interview that, in order to better portray her character’s image in the series, she refrained from eating Chinese food for a year. Korean-style Chinese food, such as Jjajangmyeon, is a popular delivery food, but it is notorious for being high in calories. Kim Ji-won certainly appears much slimmer than before in the series. It’s no wonder that her luxurious style in the series enhances her appearance even more.
- Kim Sae-ron posted a photo of her with Kim Soo-hyun on social media, sparking rumors that they may be romantically involved, although she promptly deleted the post. Recently, Kim Sae-ron has been making headlines for her drunk driving and other reckless behavior. Amidst the peak of popularity of “Queen of Tears,” the photo on Kim’s social media caught attention. From Kim Soo Hyun’s side, they denied any romantic connection, stating they were merely casual acquaintances. Although viewers were taken aback by the untimely scandal, their affection for “Queen of Tears” continues to rise.
